Skip to content
Apply Now
RMC_LFS_Stacked_4C_ SMALL ALT-1
VentureFuel_Logo-1-1

COMMERCIALIZATION. REVENUE. RETAIL. CAPITAL.

This is a 10-week sprint built around one thing: turning your dairy innovation into a business that grows.

WHAT THE PROGRAM DELIVERS.

The Real California Milk Excelerator is a structured program designed to support dairy innovation from early readiness to scale and capital access. While engagement varies by track, founders gain access to core resources built to accelerate real market outcomes.
 
Across the program, participants receive:
  • Weekly programming focused on commercialization, growth, and real market execution
  • Financial stipends to support participation throughout the program
  • Curated mentorship from operators who have built and scaled successful brands
  • Direct access to retail buyers, distributors, and industry partners
  • AI-powered go-to-market tools (new in 2026)
  • Real California Milk seal guidance and commercialization support
  • A final pitch event in front of CMAB leadership and industry judges
  • Up to $30,000 in marketing grants for selected finalists
  • A $100,000 grand prize awarded through a 12-month sales competition
Incubator participants receive milestone-based guidance tailored to early-stage development, while accelerator founders engage in the full 10-week commercialization sprint focused on accelerating revenue, securing retail traction, and scaling into market-ready growth.
cow glory

THE PLATFORM IN DETAIL

Incubator
Incubator
Foundations First

FOR EARLY-STAGE FOUNDERS

Built for early-stage brands and out-of-state founders ready to expand into California, the incubator is designed to lay the commercial groundwork. Over the course of the program, you'll move through milestone-based programming focused on:

  • Real California Milk Seal readiness and adoption
  • Product and operations foundations
  • Go-to-market strategy development
  • Brand positioning and retail presentation
  • Preparation for next year's Excelerator track

The incubator is a launchpad. Many of our most successful Excelerator alumni started here.

Excelerator
Accelerator
10-Week Commercialization Sprint

FOR GROWTH-STAGE FOUNDERS READY TO SCALE

The accelerator is where commercialization happens. Ten intensive weeks of access, tools, and mentorship focused on retail placement, revenue acceleration, and investor readiness.

  • In-person kickoff in California
  • Weekly virtual programming (approx. 1–2 hours/week)
  • Retail and distributor introductions through CMAB's network
  • AI-enabled marketing and GTM support
  • Investor readiness coaching

The accelerator is a commercialization engine, built to turn validated brands into retail-ready, revenue-generating businesses.



MENTORSHIP BUILT FOR FOUNDERS WHO ARE BUILDING.

We are curating a smaller, sharper group of mentors and judges for 2026, operators, investors, and buyers who have direct, relevant experience in the challenges you're facing right now.

Past Program Mentors

Chad Coester
Chad Coester

GM & Senior Vice President Own Brands, Albertsons Companies

Scott Collier
Scott Collier

Vice President, Whole Foods Market

Aaron May
Aaron May

Senior Manager, UNFI 

Emily Schildt
Emily Schildt

Founder, Pop Up Grocer

Norma Quon
Norma Quon

Senior Director of Marketing, UNFI

Josh Zodikoff
Josh Zodikoff

Senior Category Manager, Save Mart Companies

Cameron Lee
Cameron Lee

Former Senior Manager, Mid Market CPG Brand Partnerships, Instacart

Jennifer Chu
Jennifer Chu

Former Vice President, Food Product Marketing, Sunbasket

Tamira Franz
Tamira Franz

Senior Procurement Director, Mollie Stone's Markets

Roger Arechiga
Roger Arechiga

Director of Dairy, Deli & Frozen Foods, Bristol Farms

Lindsay Brady
Lindsay Brady

General Manager, Conagra Brands 

Rizal Hamdallah
Rizal Hamdallah

Chief Commercial Officer, Tyson Foods 

Bentley King
Bentley King

Head of Marketing Operations, Unilever 

Jason Stamm
Jason Stamm

Director, Global Commercial Strategy & Ventures, PepsiCo

Adriano Torres
Adriano Torres

Global Head, The Coca-Cola Company 

Brigette Wolf
Brigette Wolf

Former Mondelez; CMO, my/Mochi

Charlie Chappell
Charlie Chappell

Former VP of Innovation, Hershey's

Molly Hayes
Molly Hayes

Global Senior Director of Growth & Innovation, Mars

Amanda Burlison
Amanda Burlison

Senior Brand Manager, General Mills

Stephen Crozier
Stephen Crozier

R&D Partnerships, The Hershey Company 

Sarah Holley
Sarah Holley

Innovation Manager, Nestlé 

Alice Ponti
Alice Ponti

VP Innovation, AB InBev

Michelle Evans
Michelle Evans

Chief Merchandising Officer, Bespoke Post 

Lauren Abda
Lauren Abda

Founder & Managing Partner, Branch Venture Group

Seana Day
Seana Day

Partner, Better Food Ventures

Yanniv Dorone
Yanniv Dorone

Founder & Managing Partner, Full Line Capital

Rogers Healy Medium
Rogers Healy

CEO, Morrison Seger Venture Capital

Amira Khatib
Amira Khatib

Vice President, Bluestein Ventures

Lou Shipley
Lou Shipley

Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School

Brandon Hill
Brandon Hill

CEO, Vori

Joshua Belinsky
Josh Belinsky

Co-Founder, Slate Milk

Noel Rosa
Noel Rosa

President, Rosa Brothers Milk Company

Donna Berry
Donna Berry

Editor & Consultant, Daily Dose of Dairy

David Cherrie
David Cherrie

Vice President Marketing, Saputo

Lynn Giacomini Stray
Lynn Giacomini Stray

Co-Owner & COO, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company

Blake Rhodes
Blake Rhodes

Executive Vice President, Ketchum

*Executives are listed with the title and organizational affiliation they held at the time of their participation in the program.

Powered by

THE NATION'S DAIRY LEADER

Real California Milk Seal

California produces more than 18% of the nation's milk supply, and the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) has spent decades turning that scale into a commercial advantage for innovative dairy brands.

The Real California Milk seal is more than a mark of origin. It signals to consumers, retailers, and investors that your product is backed by the most trusted dairy ecosystem in America and by farmers who lead the nation in sustainable practices.

When you join the Excelerator, you gain access to CMAB's full commercial network, including buyer introductions, trade show support, production resources, distribution connections, and media reach that helps open doors most founders spend years trying to access on their own.

Brought to you by

VENTUREFUEL